Universal joint drive



1954 E. WILDHABER 2,685,784

UNIVERSAL JOINT DRIVE Filed 001;. 26, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ERNEST WIL DHABER ATTORNEY 6 Aug. 10, 1954 E. WILDHABER 2,635,734

UNIVERSAL JOINT DRIVE Filed Oct. 26, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. ERNEST WILDHABER arropvsr f Aug. 10, 1954 E. WILDHABER UNIVERSAL JOINT DRIVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 26, 1949 INVENTOR. ERNEST W/LDHABER A TTORNEY Aug. 10, 1954 E. WILDHABER 2,685,784

UNIVERSAL JOINT DRIVE Filed Oct. 26, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I65 I I6! FIG. 19. INVENTOR.

ERNEST WILDHABER H6. 18

Patented Aug. 10, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE UNIVERSAL JOINT DRIVE Ernest Wildhaber, Brighton, N. Y.

Application October 26, 1949, Serial No. 123,561

22 Claims.

The present invention relates to universal joint drives. In a more particular aspect, the invention relates to universal joint drives of the type disclosed. in my pending application Serial No. 102,788, filed July 2, 1949.

In my above mentioned application, I have disclosed a universal joint drive in which two or more Cardan type joints are used in parallel to connect two shaft members, that is, part of the energy or torque is transmitted from one shaft to the other through one Cardan type joint and another part of the energy or torque is transmitted through the other joint. The torque or energy transmitted from one joint does not go.

through the other joint.

Cardan type joints are simple in design but do not transmit true uniform motion. The transmitted motion has a periodic acceleration and deceleration and fluctuates increasingly with increase in the angle between the connected shafts. At one phase in the rotation of the joint there is an advance over uniform motion position; at another phase there is a lag. The variation in motion repeats with every half revolution of the shafts.

In the invention of my above mentioned application the two Cardan type joints used in parallel between the two intersecting shafts are designed to be at different phases, particularly at phases 90 apart. The fluctuations produced are then. opposite and approximately equal. An equalizer is then used to combine and average the motion transmitted through the two joints. This combined, averaged motion is practically uniform even at large shaft angles.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improvement and modification of the universal joint drive of my above mentioned application which is particularly suitable for small shaft angles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universal joint drive of the type described having a form of equalizer which is especially advantageous for use at moderate shaft angles, namely, at shaft angles smaller than 30 and especially at shaft angles of 20 and less.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new universal joint of high load capacity having two Car'dan type joints arranged in parallel and using a new and simple equalizer.

Cardan type universal joints made up of an external member and of an internal member are known. The external member may have a pair of coaxial rollers mounted at opposite ends on a radial axis. The internal member may have plane side surfaces to contact with Said rollers and which extend along the axis of the internal member. An important further object of the present invention is to provide a joint of this character having increased load capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drive that is so constructed as to reduce or avoid the fluctuations in the motion transmitted through such a joint.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universal joint having a pair of coaxial internal members which are movable relative to one another about a common axis.

A further object of the invention is to provide a universal joint drive having two axially spaced joints of the character mentioned in which the internal members of each pair are rigidly connected.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a universal coupling with this last described construction which will take an ample amount of angular misalignment as Well as radial and axial misalignment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel equalizer which is simple in design and which is based on linkage.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an axial sectional view through a joint constructed according to one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view such as might be taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 when the two axes of the joint are in axial alignment;

Fig. 3 is an axial sectional view of the spider member used in this joint;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 5- 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a part axial section, part elevational View of one of the roller carriers used in this joint;

Fig. 6 is a view taken at right angles to the view of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view showing the operation of the equalizing linkage of this joint;

Fig. 8 is a developed view of said linkage;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View, similar to Fig. 3, but showing a spider for a modified form of joint;

'Fig. 10 is a View, simiiar to Fig. 4, showing the modified form of linkage and spider employed in this embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a side view of one of the equalizing links used in this joint;

Fig. 12 is an axial sectional view of a further embodiment of a universal joint drive made according to the present invention, parts of the drive being shown partly in elevation;

Fig. 13 is a section such as might be taken on the line l3i3 of Fig. 12 when the shafts are in axial alignment;

Fig. 14 is a section on the line il4 of Fig. 12 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view corresponding to that of Fig. 13 but showing a further embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 16 is an axial sectional view, with parts broken away, showing an embodiment of the invention having no equalizer but comprising a pair of coaxial internal members which are rotatable with respect to one another;

Fig. 17 is an axial sectional view of a further embodiment of the invention using two joints;

Fig. 18 is a transverse sectional view such as might be taken on the line l8-l8 of either Fig.

16 or Fig. 1'7 when the shafts are in axial alignment; and

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary elevational view on a reduced scale of the internal sleeve member of either of the embodiments shown in Fig. 16 or 17.

Reference will now be had first to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive. Here, 2G and 2! denote, respectively, the two rotary elements or shafts which are to be connected by the universal joint drive of the present invention. The axes of these elements are denoted at 22 and 23, respectively. They intersect in point 25. A sleeve member 26 is connected to the element 2|. This connection is through a flanged nut 28, which secures sleeve 26 to an annular member 29 that is welded or 5..

otherwise secured to the tubular shaft 2 l. The part 29 is formed with short-tooth-like face projections 30 which fit into the right hand ends of the four internal equi-spaced axial grooves or channels 21 formed in the sleeve 26. Thus, sleeve 26 is held against rotation relative to part 29 and shaft 2 l. The grooves or channels 21 have plane sides 3!.

The shaft 20 has a reduced stub portion at its inner end. On this are mounted two roller carriers and 4| that are coaxial with shaft 20 and that are rotatable relative to each other about the axis 22 of that shaft. The two roller carriers are identical in construction and the construction of only one of them be described, therefore, in detail.

Each carrier has a hub portion 42 (Figs. 4 and 5) that is bored at 43 to fit on the stub portion .35 of the shaft 20; and each carrier has two diametrically disposed arms 44 which are formed with journals 45. Mounted on each of these journals 45 by means of antifriction pin bearings 46 is a roller 47. The coaxial pins 45 of each roller carrier serve as the race for the rollers or needles 46 on which rollers 41 are mounted. The rollers ll themselves form the outer races of these needle bearings. These rollers are held in place without preload by the caps 48 which are riveted to the pin member or roller carriers, the stumps 49 of the pins 45 being deformed into rivets by pressure, after the needles and rollers are in place, and after the caps have been applied. The journals 45 have terminal flanges 52 which serve to hold the pins 46 against axial movement.

The common axis of the rollers 4'! is perpendicular to the axis 22 of shaft 20. The two roller carriers 6!] and 4! are mounted coaxiallyon the stub shaft 35 to oscillate thereon in a fixed axial position between a washer 53, which is secured in place by a snap ring 54, and a shoulder formed on the shaft 20.

The two rollers 41 of the carrier 40 are adapted to engage in two diametrically disposed grooves 21 of the sleeve member 25; and the two rollers 41 of the other carrier 4! engage in the other two diametrically disposed grooves 2'! of the sleeve 26.

The two carriers are operatively connected with the drive shaft 20 through an equalizer which will now be described. The shaft 22 has external splines 55. Mounted upon the shaft 20 and rigidly connected with it through its splines is a spider 60. This member has internal splines 65 (Fig. 3) which engage with the splines of the shaft. The spider has four radially disposed, axially-projecting arms 62 which are equi-angularly spaced about its axis. These arms have radial slots 53 (Fig. 4) formed internally in them which have parallel plane side surfaces 55.

A linkage comprising four pairs of links 66 connects the spider 80 with the roller carriers 45 and M. The two members of each pair of links are parallel to one another. Adjacent pairs of links are connected at their ends by pins 5'! (Figs. 2, 7 and 8). Mounted on these pins are cylindrical rollers t8. These rollers engage in the radial slots 53 of the spider 56. Each pair of links is connected to one of the roller carriers 18 or 4| by a. pin 69. Each pin has a press fit in the pair of links with which it cooperates, and engages in a hole 72 in an arm 44 of a roller carrier. It is held axially therein by a head 13 and a small snap rin 14 or other known means. The axes of the pins 69 are parallel to the axis 22 of shaft 29 and intersect the roller axis 5%. The links are so connected with the roller carriers that all the pins (59 have an equal distance from the axis 22 of drive shaft 20. At their ends, the widths of the links are reduced to about half. Adjacent links overlap at the ends, therefore, without adding any overall width of the chain. The pins 61 connect adjacent links and also carry the rollers 68.

The operation of this linkage is best seen in Fig. '7. The four links form a parallelogram, having pivots 61. Each pin 69 is midway between and in line with a pair of pins Bl. Since the rollers 68 engage in the radial slots 63 of the spider 50 they are constrained to move in equispaced straight radial paths. As the diametrically opposite pins 611, 613 move outwardly, then. the other pair of diametrically opposite pins 512, 614 move inwardly, and vice versa. In the mean position the four links form a square. When pins 611, 613 move outwardly and pins 612, 6%.

move inwardly, a parallelogram is formed with acute angles at 511 and E73 and obtuse angles at 612 and 674.

It is a known fact that in a motion of this kind the centers of the pins 39 describe circular arcs it about the center H of the parallelogram. This center is on the axis 22 of the shaft 29. In other words, as the pins 61' move radially in or out, toward or from the center 7!, the pins 59 move about the axis 22 of the element 20 and of spider 60.

The links are shown in Fig. 7 turned through a slight angle [5 from mean position. The dotted lines in this figure show another position of the pins when they are turned through an exaggerated angle to the opposite side of the mean position, Hi denoting the angle through which they are turned to the opposite side.

It is 566 1 that this linkage permits the required motion of the roller carr iers 'forward and back about the axis 2'2 of the spider. Byplacing the pins 59 in line with a pair of pins 61, -a link member may be made allin one'piece and-extend all of the way between two adjacent pins -6l. This renders it unnecessary to'use two different links between adjaeent'pi'ns 61 pivoting-about the intermediate pm $9. "It will also be seen that the connecting lines of diametrically opposite pins 61 are always perpendicularto eachother and that the pins 69' are symmetrically positioned with reference to the two connecting lines. The angular advance 15 of one roller carrier always equals the angular lag of the other roller carrier as Compared with'the motion of the spider. In other words, the spider 60 moves at the averagemotio'n, and the combined'parts constitute an equalizer.

In analyzing the transmitted motion it is con; venientto start out from the motion of the elemerit-2i even though this may be the driven member. The motion of'the element 20 is then determined. for a uniform motion of element 2! and of the sleeve 26 which is secured to the element 2i to rotate therewith. When the motion of element 2a is found to be uniform, then uniform motion will be transmitted" from the isle me'nt 26 to'the element 2i. Whatever slight departures from uniform motion exist, exist also when the element 20 is the driver and turns at a uniform rate. The departures arethen those of the element 2 1.

Each roller carrier with its rollers and their contact with the sleeve 26 acts like a Cardan type universal joint. The motion transmitted thereby is exactly like the motion transmitted in a Garden joint of the same shaft angularity. This motion is nearly uniform for moderate shaft angles but begins to vary and fluctuate more and more with increase in 'the Shaft angles. The fluctuations repeat with every half revolution. They change substantially like'a sine curve. The positions of advance and lag are 90 apart. An exact analysis of this motion ispresented'i'n 'my abovementioned application.

As the grooves 2? of the sleeve 20 are 90 apart, the two roller carriers 40 and 4! in the drive of the present invention are in the opposite phase. The average motion of the two rollerc'arriers is, therefore, very nearly uniform. The Variation in motion transmitted by one roller carrier is substantially offset by theyari'a'tion in motion transmitted by the other roller' carrier. At a shaft angle of the ma'x imumadvarice or lag'from. uniform lIlOtlOl'l'IJOSitiOll is 26' for a Garden joint, but for the two Caidanjdin'ts disposed in opposite phase as described it-isze'i o (or 0.1). At a shaft angle'of 20 the maximum advance or lag is 1 47' for each Cardan joint and 1.7 for the motion averaged in accordance with my invention. In other words substantial'u'niformity of motion is achieved.

The joint shown in Figs. 1 to 8 permits axial displacement of the shaft element 2| within the limits or the design. This is desirable in rnany cases as on the propeller shaft and other shafts of an automotive vehicle. Moreover, this joint has a large load capacity on aeoo'un't of itsfour rollers. Furthermore the equalizer constrains the four rollers to share the load equally.

In the drive shown, the driving load is transmitted through the equalizing linkage,-the:pins 69, the pins 55, and the rollers 41. The stub shaft 35 serves merely for centering. Hencewe have a constant velocity joint of relatively simple design, having a minimumof "frictioh'lo'ssfwhich doe's not heat up,"and which can beeasily made to outlast-the-vehicle, in which it is used, and Which requ'ires' little, if any, service.

A seal 15 (Fig.1) serves to keep out dust and dirt and to keep in grease. The seal #5 may be made of a suitable elastic material, such as a synthetic rubber which is unaiiected by oil and grease. One'end of the seal may be secured by wire coil'lii or other means to the sleeve 25; and the-ether end of the seal may be secured by a wire coil nor other suitable means to the spider 69'. The-inside'of'the' sleeve 26 is sealed on from the tubular shaft 2| by a cup-shaped insert '18 whieh-is fastened in any suitable manner to the hub member 29 and which may be made of sheet metal. Thus the joint is effectively sealed on both sides'by seals 15 and 18. With a joint constructed according to the present invention, greasing presents less of a problem than in known constant velocity joints because of the rolling contact of the rollers 41 on their pins as and on thestraight races formed by the sidestl of the grooves-2l of the sleeve 2 6, and because of'the small amounts of motion performed by the equalizing linkage.

Various forms'of equalizing linkages may be used in universal joint'drives constructed according to the present invention. A modified form of linkage is shown in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive. Here the link members 86 are made of Y-shape. Each link member is provided at one end with a rounded projection 83 and each link member has two parallel legs or 'furcations 8! that terminate in rounded projections 84. The legs or furcations 'BI are bored, as'denoted at 82, to receive the'pins 69-by which the link member is connected t'o the roller carriers M3 and 41 The-projections 8'3 and 8A are equivalent to the rollers 68 of the first described embodiment of the invention. These rounded, cylindrical end portions 83 and 84 engage in sliding blocks 85 that are capable of sliding in radial slots 85 formed in the'axially projecting arms 88 of a spider-member- 90. A rounded portion 83 of one link member and the rounded portions 36 of the adjacent-link member engage in the slot 85 of each block 85. Thus, the sliding blocks 85 connect adjacent link members with the spider 98. The pins 69 which connect the link members with the roller carriers 49 and M are secured axially as before. Again, the spider is rigidly connected with the drive shaft or driven shaft. The roller carriers are not shown. They may be centered on each othenwithout direct connection with the spider or with the shaft to which the spider is secured. Centering and axial alignment may be accomplished-through the linkage. If desired, however, theroller carriers may be mounted on the element 20 as in the previously described embodiment of the invention.

The equalizer based on linkage is one of the principal'features of the invention. It is, however, not the only feature of th invention. Figs. 12 to 14 inclusive illustrate an embodiment of the invention with all of the features of the invention present. Here a universal'joint drive is shown with two joints capable of transmitting uniform motion. This embodiment can be considered a universal coupling which is capable of taking angular as well as linear misalignment or eccentricity between. the two end members connected thereby.

At the left in Fig. 12 is a universal joint of the same general character as shown in Fig. 1. It comprises two "roller carriers it and ll that are opera'ti'vely "oomiec'ted with a spider member 90 through a linkage such as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive. The spider member is substantially of the same construction as the spider member Bil, having arms 92 (Fig. 13) which have slots in them that have plane sides 95. The roller carriers All] and M are here mounted with their hub portions on a stub shaft 98 which forms part of the spider member 90. The spider is rigidly connected to the shaft I66 by a toothed face coupling WI and by the nut I52 which threads onto both the spider member and the shaft, the threaded portions m3 and IN of the spider and the shaft being, respectively, of opposite hand, and the cooperating internally threaded portions of the nut I92 being correspondingly of opposite hand.

Here, the two coaxial rollers 41 of the roller carrier t! engage in the plane sided channels or grooves till of a pair of diametrically disposed U-shaped bars or channel members I06 while the two coaxial rollers 4'! of the roller carrier 40 engage in the plane sided channels or grooves I09 of a separate pair of diametrically disposed U-shaped bars or channel members IE8.

The two channel members lot are secured midway of their lengths to a block H6. The two channel members 588 are secured midway of their lengths to a block I I8 (Fig. 14) The blocks H6 and IIB fit into the grooves or channel It! and its, respectively, of the channel members I86 and I98, respectively, at points midway the length of the channel members, as shown in Fig. 14, and are rigidly secured to the channel bars by rivets iii! and I2I. The blocks Ht and II8 are recessed to receive one another; and the blocks are mounted to be coaxial and are movable relatively to one another about their common axis, They are centered by a bolt III} and are held together axially by the head III of the bolt and through the snap ring IIZ. Other designs may also be employed. The main feature is that here the two sleeves or channel members are separate and movable relative to one another.

The channel members project equally in axial direction on both sides of the connecting blocks H6 and IE8. The rollers ll engage the channels adjacent one end of the channel members. Adjacent their opposite ends, the channel members are engaged by rollers [27 that are all mounted on the four radial arms of a common roller carrier I25, which is rigidly secured by splines to a coaxial shaft I38.

A thin-walled tube IZ-ZI surrounds the channel members I86 and ms. If desired, this tube may be connected to one of the channel bars. For added stiffness rings 532 and I33 may be welded to the tube 3! at opposite ends thereof. Elastic seals I35 and E35 similar to the seal I are tightly secured to these rings by coiled wires It! and IE5. These seals are secured at their opposite ends to the nut IE2 and the roller carrier I25, respectively, by coiled Wires I39 and I46, respectively.

The universal joint drive of Figs. 12 and 14 inclusive, with two spaced universal joints transmits substantially uniform motion. Uniform motion of shaft I30 causes the two channel members to advance and lag from uniform motion about equally and in opposite directions. The two roller carriers ii and t! also advance and lag from uniform motion about equally and in opposite directions. The spider Si and the end member or shaft Iiiii move, therefore, at the average rate of the two carriers, that is, uniformly. In other words, and as pointed out in my above mentioned application, a single equalizerfmay be used for both joints of the universal joint drive, and may make the drive a uniform motion drive. There is no restriction as to the shaft angularity between the two spaced joints of the drive. The shaft angles may be equal or unequal and may be in the same or opposite directions. In all cases uniform motion is achieved.

A modified form of equalizer isshown in Fig. 15. Here a tape I39 is used instead of the chain links. The tape has four equi-angularly spaced holes in it through which the radial-projecting roller-carrying arms I42 and I43 of the roller carriers Ito and [41 extend. The tapes are tightly pressed onto rounded supporting flanges I44, which are integral with the arms, by nuts I45 which thread onto the arms. The tape engages, between arms I42 and I43, in sliding blocks I46. These blocks engage in plane sided radial slots I 41 of the arms I48 of a spider member I513. The action of this tape equalizer is very similar to the action of the previously described equalizers having pivoted links. Here the clasticity of the tape substitutes for the pivots. Here, also, the turning motion of the spider member is the average of the turning motion of the two coaxial roller carriers MI] and NH.

Further embodiments of the invention are illustrated in Figs. 16 to 18 inclusive. These embodiments do not employ equalizers. Here, there are a pair of coaxial channel members I and IEI which are movable relative to one another about their common axis and which contain straight-sided internal channels or grooves I62 and I63, respectively. These members are held in axial alignment by any suitable known means.

The total of the four channels of the two members IE8 and IBI are engaged adjacent one end by four rollers I {51 mounted on the four radial arms I66 of a roller carrier I65. Diametrically opposite rollers are mounted coaxially; and the two axes of the two pairs of rollers intersect at the axis I68 of the roller carrier. This is also the axis of the shaft I'IEB to which the carrier is secured by splines. The axial position of the roller carrier is fixed by th set-screw HI Adjacent their opposite ends the four channels or grooves I62 and IE3 of the members I60 and I6I are engaged by four rollers I'll carried by the four radial arms I18 of a roller carrier I15. This carrier is identical with the carrier IE5 and is rigidly secured by splines to the other shaft IBI] of the drive as by means of a set-screw IBI. The inner member IfiI of the two tubular members is slotted from both ends as denoted at I68 (Fig. 9) so that it may be assembled with reference to the two roller carriers.

In the embodiment of Fig. 16 the two shafts have a further operative connection. They are connected by a ball joint disposed midway between the centers I86 and ISI' of the two universal joints. The intermediate joint comprises a ball I which has a stud portion I 85 that threads into the inner end of the shaft Ilii. This ball portion fits into a socket member 58'! that threads into the shaft I89. The ball and the socket member are held in engagement by a nut I88 that fits over the ball and threads onto the socket member.

With this construction, the axes I69, 589 of the two shafts I10 and I88 are constrained to stay in the same plane and the shaft angles of the two joints are equal. The result is a constant velocity joint of the type using two Cardan joints in series. This present joint differs from known icints of thistype, however, in that a pair of relatively movable. connectin members are used whis n turn permits of usev of twice as many rollers to ive. increased load capacity, or to give for a given load capacity a joint of smaller size. and smaller wei h e mbo iment-oi the inv ntion illustrated F th re s n int rmediat hall jo nt con: ne io e w enthe two shafts, bu the s ructhre s otherwise he same as in the. emhodi inte o Fig. 16. Its roller arr rs 165, lit a e t a a d the pa r f. cha ne members Hit, t h t inte l ch nnels .152. tt are the am his bodim nt is a univer al couthus a hi i ertai of the objectsof the r s t n nt on The fr edom f: the twov Ch 11 1 m rs to tur lat ve to each ther he common ax ds materially to the uniih motion har erist cs of the universal oup ha T fou roll rcontactssimu taneously used in a io ht m dam acco d t e present invention has the further adva age, as other embodiments of the invention, that they automatically center the engaged channel member or members through the drive contact itself without addition of further structure. This further adds to the compactness of the drive. While the invention has been described in connection with several different embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention, following, in general, the principles of theinvention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A universal joint comprising a pair of coaxial roller holders mounted to be rotatable relative to one another about their common axis,

a. pair of rollers mounted on each holder for rotation about an axis intersecting the axis of said holder, a plurality of pairs of straight ways disposed about a common axis, each pair of ways being engaged by one pair of said rollers, a spider member coaxial with said roller holders, and linlrs pivotally mounted on the roller holders at points midway of their lengths and connecting the roller holders to the spider member.

.7 2. A universal joint comprising a pair of coaxial roller holders mounted to be rotatable relative, to one another about their common axis, a pair of rollers mounted on each holder for rotation about an axis intersecting the axis of said holder, two pairs of straight ways disposed about acommon axis, each pair of ways being engaged by one pair of said rollers, a spider member co.- axial with said roller holders, said spider member having four arms with internal radial slots formed therein, and an equalizer for connecting said spider member and the roller carriers, said equalizer comprising members movable radially in said slots and means connecting said members with said roller holders.

3. A universal joint comprising a pair of coaxial roller holders mounted to be rotatable relative to one another about their common axis, each of which has two diametrically opposite arms, a pair of rollers mounted on the two arms of each holder for rotation about an axis interpa o wa s being en aged y o a of ai rollers a ider-mem er oax al h a d o l h ers aid spider m e a in u ms each f ich has a ra ly s d s t eand an equalizer for connecting said spider member and the roller carriers, said equalizer comprising a plurality of links, each of which is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to an arm of a roller holder, and each of which is piyotally connected at its opposite. ends to two other of said plurality of links, and a roller carried at the point of pivotal connection of each two links which is arranged to engage in the slot in one arm of the spider.

Auniversal-joint comprising a pair of co.- axial roller holders mounted to be rotatable relative to one another about their common axis, each of which has two diametrically opposite arms, a pair of rollers mounted on the two arms of eachholder for rotation about an axis intersecting the axis of said holder, two pairs. 0; straight ways-disposed about a common axis, each pair of waysbeing engaged by one pair of said-rollers, a; spider member coaxial with said roller-holders saidspider member having four arms, each oiwhich has a radially disposed slot therein, and an equalizer for. connecting said spider member and the rollerrcarrierfi said equalizer comprising a plurality of links, each of which is pivotally .connectedintermediate its. to an armof a roller holder, and each or which has rounded portions-at its opposite ends, a block s a y m uhz edi ach arm of th p r and having arounded recess therein adapted to re: ceive the opposite rounded ends of two adia= centlinlgsr 5. A universaijoint comprising a pair of coaxial roller holders mounted to be rotatable relative to one another-About their common axis, each of which has two diametrically opposite arms, ,a pair of rollersmounted on the two arms of each holder. forrotation about an axis intersecting the axis or said holder, twopairs of straightv ways dis: posed about a commonaxis, each pair of ways being engaged by one pairof said rollers, a spider member coaxial with, said roller holders, said spider memberehaving four arms, each of which has a radially. disposed slot therein, and an equal,- izerfor connecting said spidermember and the roller carriers, said equalizer comprising a fiexi= le tape hav n o es therein t ugh whic he arms of the roller holders extend, and blocks see cured to said tape between said roller-holderarms, which blocks engage .in the slots in the spiderarmsk 6. A universal Joint-comprising a spider memher and a-channfil member whose axes intersect, two roller carriers mounted coaxial with the spider member to move relative to one another and relative to the spider member about their common axis, each roller carrier having two diametrically opposite arms which project radially outwardly irorn i s a a a of ax a olle s mounted o the arms of each roller carrier, said channel memberhaving guide channels formed internally therein which extend axially of said member in which-the rollers engage, and 7 an equalizer for interconnecting the spider mem; ber and'the roller carriers; said equalizer com prising four which are pivoted, respectively, on the four arms oitheroller carriers for pivotal movemcntab ut a a le s-andm ans connesting the. links t theid r member.

ieht; wa s diseas ou a com xi ch 7. A universal joint comprising a spider member and a channel member whose axes intersect, said channel member having four guide channels formed internally therein whose sides are plane and extend axially of the channel member, two roller carriers mounted coaxial with the spider member and adapted to move relative to one another and to said spider member about the axis of said spider member, each roller carrier having two diametrically opposite arms which project radially outwardly from its axis, a roller journaled on each arm of each roller carrier, the two rollers of each carrier being coaxial, said rollers engaging in respectively different guide channels of the channel member, and an equalizer for interconnecting the spider member and the roller carriers, said equalizer comprising a plurality of links, each of which is pivoted at a point between its ends on an arm of a roller carrier, each of said links being operatively connected at its opposite ends to the spider member.

8. A universal joint drive comprising two spaced end members, a pair of coaxial intermediate connecting members movable relative to one another about their common axis and both extending from one of said end members to the other, each connecting member having a pair of diametrically opposite guide channels, each of which has parallel plane sides, four rollers mounted on one end member to engage in said guide channels and to rotate about axes which extend radially of and intersect the axis of said end member, and four rollers mounted on the other end member to engage in said guide channels and to rotate about axes which extend radially of and intersect the axis of said other end members.

9. A universal joint drive comprising two spaced end members, a pair of coaxial intermediate connecting members movable relative to one another about their common axis and both extending from one of said end members to the other, each connecting member having a pair of diametrically opposite guide channels, each of which has parallel plane sides, four rollers mounted on one end member to engage in said guide channels adjacent one end thereof and to rotate about axes which extend radially of'and intersect the axis of said end member, and four rollers mounted on the other end member to en gage in said guide channels adjacent the other end thereof and to rotate about axes which extend radially of and intersect the axis of said other end member, and separate means for further connecting said end members with each other to maintain said end members at equal angles to the axis of said connecting members.

10. A universal joint drive comprising two spaced end members, a pair of coaxial intermediate connecting members movable relative to one another about their common axis and both extending from one of said end members to the other, each connecting member having a pair of diametrically opposite guide channels, each of which has parallel plane sides, four rollers mounted on one end member to engage in said guide channels adjacent one end thereof and to rotate about axes which extend radially of and intersect the axis of said end member, and four rollers mounted on the other end member to engage in said guide channels adjacent the other end thereof and to rotate about axes which extend radially of and intersect the axis of said other end member, and a ball joint connecting said end members at a point midway between the two sets of rollers which are mounted on the two end members, respectively.

11. A universal joint drive comprising two end members, a pair of coaxial intermediate connecting members movable relative to one another about their common axis, each connecting member having a pair of diametrically opposite guide channels which extend axially of the member, four rollers mounted on one end member to engage in said guide channels and to rotate about axes which extend radially of and intersect the axis of said one end member, a pair of roller carriers mounted on the other end member to move relative to one another and to said end member about the axis of said end member, a pair of rollers mounted on each of said roller carriers to rotate about axes extending radially of and intersecting the axis of said end member, the rollers carried by said roller carriers also engaging in said guide channels, and means operatively connecting the roller carrier and said other end member.

12. A universal joint drive comprising two end members, a pair of coaxial intermediate connecting members movable relative to one another about their common axis, each connecting member having a pair of diametrically opposite guide channels which extend axially of the member, four rollers mounted on one end member to engage in said guide channels and to rotate about axes which extend radially of and intersect the axis of said one end member, a pair of roller car riers mounted on the other end member to move relative to one another and to said other end member about the axis of said other end member, a pair of rollers mounted on each of said roller carriers to rotate about axes extending radially of and intersecting the axis of said other end member, the rollers carried by said roller carriers also engaging in said guide channels, and equalizing means interconnecting the roller carriers and said other end member to transmit the average motion of said roller carriers to and from said other end member.

13. A universal joint drive comprising two end members, a pair of coaxial intermediate connecting members movable relative to one another about their common axis, each connecting member having a pair of diametrically opposite guide channels which extend axially of the member, four rollers mounted on one end member to engage in said guide channels and to rotate about axes which extend radially of and intersect the axis of said one end member, a pair of roller carriers mounted on the other end member to move relative to one another and to said end member about the axis of said end member, a pair of rollers mounted on each of said roller carriers to rotate about axes extending radially of and intersecting the axis of said end member, the rollers carried by said roller carriers also engaging in said guide channels, and equalizing means interconnecting the roller carriers and said other end member, said equalizing means comprising four links, two of which are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on one roller holder and the other two of which are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on the other roller holder, and means operatively connecting the opposite ends of each link with said other end member.

14,. A universal joint drive comprising two end members, a pair of coaxial intermediate connecting members movable relative to one another about their common axis, each of said connecting members comprising a central portion and two channel members which are secured to the central portion at diametrically opposite sides thereof, each of said channel members projecting axially at both sides beyond said central portion and having an internal guide channel formed therein which extends axially of the common axis of the channel members, a roller carrier secured to one end member and having four radially projecting arms equi-spaced about its axis, a roller mounted on each arm in engagement with a guide channel, two roller carriers mounted on the other end member coaxial therewith to move relative to one another and to said other end member about a common axis, each of said two last-named roller carriers having a pair of diametrically opposite arms projecting outwardly therefrom, a roller mounted on each of said diametrically opposite arms, to engage each in a different guide channel of said two channel members, and equalizing means comprising a linkage connected to the two last-named roller carriers and having portions which are connected to said other end member to move radially thereof.

15. An equalizer for universal joints comprising a rotatable spider, two members coaxial therewith and movable relative to one another about the axis of said spider, and a plurality of links pivotally connected to said two members and to one another and to the spider for transmitting the average motion of the two members to the spider, the pivots of .said links being all parallel to the axis of said spider.

16. An equalizer for universal joints comprising a rotary member with four radial slots spaced about its axis, two members mounted coaxial therewith to move relative to one another and to said first member about their common axis, a pair of links pivoted on each of said two coaxial members at points midway of their lengths, the axes of pivotal movement of said links being parallel, said links forming a closed four-link chain, and pins connecting each link at its opposite ends with the opposite ends of the two next adjacent links, said pins engaging in the radial slots of the first member, the pivot pins for each link member and the pivotal axis of each link member being disposed in a straight line.

17. An equalizer for universal joints comprising a rotary member having four radial slots spaced r equi-angularly about its axis, two roller carriers mounted to be coaxial with said member and movable relative to each other and to said member about their common axis, each roller carrier having two diametrically opposite arms projecting outwardly from its axis, a roller rotatably mounted on each arm, a link pivoted on each arm midway of its length, the pivotal axes of the several links being parallel to said common axis, each of said links being pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the two next adjacent links, and a member carried at the point of pivotal connection of each pair of links which engages in one of the slots in said rotary member.

18. An equalizer for universal joints comprising a rotary spider having four radial slots therein, two members mounted coaxial with said spider and movable relative to each other and to said spider about said common axis, a closed four part linkage connecting said members with the spider, said linkage comprising four links, two of which are pivotally mounted on each of said two members at opposite sides of said common axis, opposite ends of each link being pivotally connected to the two next adjacent links, and rollers mounted at the points of pivotal connection of the links, said rollers engaging in the radial slots of the spider.

19. A universal joint drive comprising two end members, a pair of coaxial intermediateconnecting members movable relative to one another about their common axis, each connecting member having a pair of diametrically opposite guide channels extending axially thereof, four rollers mounted on one end member to rotate about axes which extend radially of and intersect the axis of said one end member and engaging in said guide channels adjacent one end of said channels, and four other rollers mounted on radial axes which intersect the axis of said other end member for engagement with said guide channels adjacent the opposite end of said channels, the parts embodying the radial axes of said four other rollers being operatively connected with said other end member.

20. A universal joint drive comprising two spaced rotatable end members, two holders mounted on one of said end members for relative oscillation about the axis of said one end member, each holder having a pair of coaxial pivots lying at opposite sides of said axis and radial of said axis, a pair of parts rotatably mounted on each of said pair of pivots, guides having two pairs of straight ways engaged by said two pairs of parts, all of said ways being disposed about a common axis and extending axially thereof, said guides extending from one of said end members to the other, and means for pivotally connecting said uides with the other of said end members to transmit torque therebetween.

21. A universal joint drive with two spaced universal joints, each of said joints comprising a rotatable end member, holders with radial pivots mounted on each of said end members, said pivots being arranged in coaxial pairs, a pair of parts rotatably mounted on each of said pairs of pivots, a plurality of coaxial connecting members mounted on each other for relative oscillation about their common axis and extending from one end member to the other, said connecting members having pairs of straight guide-ways engaged by said pairs of parts.

22. A universal joint comprising an end member, a pair of holders mounted on said end member to be coaxial therewith and rotatable relative to one another about the axis of said end member, a pair of parts journaled coaxially on each holder for rotation about an axis radial of the axis of said end member, a plurality of pairs of parallel straight ways disposed about a common axis, each pair of which is engaged by one of said pairs of parts, and a four-bar linkage having parallel link pivots interconnecting said end member and said holders to transmit the average motion of said holders to and from said end member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATEN'LS Number Name Date 1,498,678 Chavier June 24, 1924 2,102,973 Porsche Dec. 21, 1937 2,186,846 Trobojevich Jan. 9, 1940 2,329,903 Horne Sept. 21, 19 3 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 250,987 Switzerland 1948 

